Calling all Carvers,
I have been a nurse for over 30 years, the first 15 years in ICU and the last 16 years managing an Education & Training department. Over 10 years ago I worked closely with a physical therapy expert and developed a workplace safety program for Call Center employees which was helpful in reducing repetitive injuries. There are now many more studies on ergonomics and proven ways to manage your environment and activities that help reduce injuries. This makes me think about all of you. I know many of you suffer with various injuries and issues due to the way you use your body and environment to carve.

I am motivated to develop a safety program to help reduce the injuries you have from your art of carving. My goal at this time is to engage as many carvers as I can in providing information about your carving habits and injuries, via a survey. In order to develop a safety program I will need to collect data, analyze the information and then work with some specialists to set up a program specifically for carvers.

If you are interested in being part of this study and helping me to implement a safety program to help reduce injuries for carvers, please let me know. This will take me about a year to develop, so no pressure on anyone. You are welcome to send me a private message or share your thoughts here.

Way cool, Marlene!
I'll be part of the program! Please include me in your survey.

I saw Jeff's post on facebook that apparently motivated you to do this.
Even though I don't hurt myself as much as him , I do know that I do a lot of things "wrong".
I carve in a very primitive way, with the log laying flat on the ground, and me either crouching over it, sitting on it, or sitting on a milk crate or cinder block for a seat.
Then throw in an uneven floor, a ceiling height that's lower than I am tall, power tools with the safety guards removed, sharp chisels, a chainsaw...it's a wonder I'm still alive!

I may be one (far) end of the spectrum, and I do know a couple carvers who work on a standard height workbench, with their work securely clamped down, and wear proper safety gear, in a well-lit and ventilated shop, who would be the other end of the spectrum, but most carvers that I know are closer to me. I'd bet we all 'know' how we should be doing things, but for various reasons, we don't.

I think the root of the problem is the shape of a basic Tiki, cylindrical. Hard to secure, tends to roll, and needs to be worked on from all angles (360). Then, if it's bigger than a couple feet tall, it will have substantial weight which adds to the problems.

Here's a pic of me in my workspace. Let me know if you see anything wrong.

Fabulous...we are off to a great start here. It will take me a while to develop the survey as I want to be sure to cover all aspects of the art. Please keep sharing your information and pictures are appreciated.

Bill, you are so right...most of us know what safety practices we should be implementing when we are performing various activities but bypass due to time constraints, lack of proper equipment, bad habits, etc. This is going to be an all encompassing program to help with all aspects of the craft. It is so important that you take care of yourselves so you will have many happy years of carving.

well, in all fairness, the sort of on-going back thing from which I suffer has it's roots not in tiki, but in surfing.

in 89 I was surfing at spanish house on solid head-high offshore day, the sandbars were kinda weird & shallow that day, and I got pitched on the inside & went over the falls and kinda got pile-driven into the sandbar. When this happened I herniated a disc in my lower back. It has haunted me ever since. Usually a few times a year, usually during the most inopportune times, it will rear it's ugly head and make life miserable for a few days... Sometimes it's way worse than others. I had to quit muay thai over the whole back thing. Had to go to physical therapy, etc...

But yeah, the other half of what's happening here is obviously due to the fact that I constantly have large pieces in process and, and when you're moving a lot of big logs around all the time, it kinda kicks your ass. And then there's the tool injuries.... yikes... if I had a dollar for every angle grinder burn, chisel slice, chainsaw gash, etc. that I've endured in the last few years, I'd be on a boat in belize doin' body shots off bikini models. lol...

anyhoo... I use a rockwell jawhorse and and an old black & decker workmate that my grandfather gave me.

I have started to write the survey, I use Survey Monkey at work so it is somewhat familiar in the private venue. You are right Jeff, must take already existing injuries into account, and so many other things...I'm in that brainstorming mode now. Below is an initial list of items I need to explore, so feel free to add other items specific to your craft. This list will grow based on your input, which I will continue to add to this list until I have a thorough survey ready. Thanks for your help.

Pre-existing conditions and how acquired
Current treatments for existing conditions (medications, massage, physical therapy)
Types of materials you work on
Tools and how used
Work conditions (location, size, lighting)
Clamps, vices, holding apparatus
Exposure (chemicals, sun, dust)
Body positions when working
Work intervals and rest periods and project time lines
Safety equipment and knowledge of injury prevention

My space is very small... not much more than 150 sq. ft. Other than that my arrangement is similar to Jeff in that I rely mostly on a workmate and a Jawhorse. There is an attachment for the Jawhorse specifically designed to hold logs. I'm not doing much large stuff these days so the standard clamping device works nicely for the small stuff. Seems like I am constantly getting tripped up by all the stuff underfoot. Logs, big chunks of wood from chainsaw rough out, beer cans etc. Aha! there's a good one for you. Empty beer cans and power tools do not mix. Guess I'll never learn...

Damn Marlene, your plan is already working! I've never heard of the Jawhorse before, but it looks to be exactly what I need! No more hunching over holding the smaller pieces between my feet. I'll start saving for one. Thanks Jeff and amate, too!
_________________Me on facebook

it's basically a foot operated clamp, so you can use 2 hands to hold the log in place. And, it's thick & heavy, not flimsy.

and when I'm really whackin' at it with the big chisels and there's a lot of impact & shaking, I use a clamping strap to keep it in place so I am not constantly repositioning. it's stable and nothing shifts or slips...

I did a couple of BIG pieces a few months ago and did 'em on the ground like you in that pic, and at the end of getting them done, my back flared up worse than it had in the last ten years... hell, for that matter maybe the worse it's been since the original injury. Tom & Will both warned me... "man, get off the ground..." I really should have listened....

but yeah, get a jawhorse... they fold up real nice too... will sit on the front seat of your truck...